The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-08-27
JOHN HENRY, JR., GOES OUT.


The other day our friend John Henry jim
kins, Junior, thought it would be highly
proper and pre-. eminently polite act to take
young lady out for carriage drive. He
invited the handsome and accomplished
young daughter of one Of the wealthy ma
hobs of the town wherein he resides, and
his invitation was accepted. He secured per-
mission from his father to use horee and
carriage which MIR. Jinkins had recently
purchased. 1t was very fine turnout On
the evening that the great event Of the ride
was to transpire, John Henry, Jr., put on
his Sunday clothes and q clean collar, and
hitched up his fathers new rig, and started
for the lonely and secluded wigwam where
dwelt the fair Matilda The carriage was a
new one, and not a mote of dust begrimmed
its shining varnish. The horse had been
rubbed till it shone. The lap-robe was of
linen and fresh from the laundry. Not a
speck could be seen on the new white hat
worn by John Henry, Jr. as he drove up in
front Of the house of the young lady's stern
parient. The stern PARENT was out in the
yard, as was also his wife. They were sitting
upon the lawn, talking. There was also the
stern PARENTS business partner, seated on a
camp stool, conversing with them. John
Henry, Jr., couldn't get the horse to stop at
the right place, and in backing up he ran
against the hitching post. He got nervous,
and the horse got excited, but he at last
halted by the block and stepped out. He wac
very red in the face, and his cuffs were pro.
truding great deal too far, and his necktie
was over the top of his collar, and his pants
were up half way to his knees, but he didn t
mind such little things as these. He was
seeking the fair Matilda. As he looked up
and bowed to the stern PARENT, he noticed a
sort of deathly sarcophagus grin spread
ing over the countenance Of the stern pa
RENTS partner. He also noticed that the
mother of the fair Matilda was smiling al
the little flowers in the garden across the
way. Mr.. John Henry, Jr., was very OBJ
servant. He likewise noticed that the girl
little brother sat on the steps, cycling him
|intently; that the girls little sister and Q
little friend sat under tree, watching hin
intently and giggling: that there was young
descendant of the stern PARENT sitting on {
shawl on the lawn, shaking tin rattle a
him, and the family cat coming around thu
corner of the house, grinning at him.
John Henry, Jr's, collar came unbuttonet
in the back ct just this time and reared III
behind his ears. He advanced bravely vi
the front walk, however, and was just goinI
to apologize and offer to 90 back after banC
wagon and take the whole family. when tn
fair Matilda appeared, with her things on
and sweetly Observed
"Gsod evening, Mr.. Jinkins. l an al
ready"
"G-g -ah-good evening"" observed Johl
Henry, Jr.; poking down his collar in tn
back and taking hasty survey of the fami
ly circle. The business partner grinned
funeral grin, the mother smiled at the it'll
, flowers in the garden across the road, tn
little brother eyed him intently, the littl
r girls giggled, the baby crswed and shook it
D rattle at him, and the family cat licked II
: whiskers and smiled CHASTITY cat laugh q
, his expense. He managed to help the fai
t Matilda into the carriage and get started
! and by and by his cuffs retreated up his Goa
0 sleeves to their proper position, and hi
t necktie settled down, and his collar was q
right, and he had Q most excellent tina,